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That's the name Los Angeles-based
TransAmerica(TAI) has given to U.S. adults, regardless of income level, who have upped their retirement savings efforts creatively and strategically.

"Power planners are everyday people," says Catherine Collinson, president of the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. "They are neighbors, friends, colleagues and people next to us in line at the supermarket -- not just people limited to the ranks of the ultra-affluent. What makes them exceptional is the time they take out of their daily activities to save and plan for retirement."

Transamerica's 14th annual
Retirement Survey comes as Americans are starting to see slivers of sunlight on the economy and their own finances. According to the survey, which covers 3,650 full- and part-time workers, 55% of U.S. workers are either somewhat confident or very confident about their retirement prospects. That's up from 51% last year, although still below the 59% of Americans who said the same thing in 2007.

But the Great Recession and subsequent slow economic recovery have obviously taken a toll, as 62% of Americans say they are "less confident" about their retirement prospects since the recession began.

"Retirement confidence is on the rise, but people are still not technically ready for retirement," Collinson says. "Working longer and delaying full retirement is an excellent means of generating income and bridging a retirement savings shortfall, as well as an opportunity to stay active and involved. However, life's unforeseen circumstances, such as health issues or a job loss, can derail the best of intentions. Retirement readiness requires having a retirement strategy as well as a backup plan if retirement happens sooner than expected."

That's where those "power planners" enter the picture. Transamerica has tips based on what they do that you can do as well: